Fashion Necklush

August 25, 2009 - 3:32 pm

Necklush

Introducing… Necklush.  Is it a necklace?  Is it a scarf?  Is it a statement piece?  Who the hell knows, really?

But do truly wonderful things need labels?  I don’t think so.  The Necklush speaks for itself.  The idea is really beautiful in its simplicity.  The garments are made from one single piece of cotton, which is cut & sewn into seamless loops, before being layered to create a long whorl which can be worn a number of ways.  Down to the knees, knotted, wrapped, or tied up in a complicated manner, you can really make the Necklush look any way you want.

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Fashion Fall/Winter Fashion Focus

August 20, 2009 - 3:40 pm

mcqueen

Fall officially hits the Northern hemisphere on the 22nd of September – which, horrifyingly, only gives us a little over a month to bask in our last days of summer.  Quick! Break out the sun-dresses & gladiator sandals because it won’t be long until it’s too chilly to wear them!

The good news is that fall (& by extension, winter) is a true sartorialist’s wonderland.  While summer is all about wearing as little as possible & allowing our skin to breathe, fall is about covering it up a bit – & doing so with exceptional style & grace.  It’s our opportunity to show what our wardrobes are really made of,  so embrace it!

Of course, we can only work within the parameters we’ve been given…so here’s a summary of what you’re likely to see in the shops & on the street.  Remember that combining 5 trends at once is a sure route to fashion failure, so be selective & combine new elements with your old tried & true aesthetic for best results!

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Fashion Be a Brat!

August 18, 2009 - 9:50 am

The Brat Store

Roughly 6 years ago I stumbled on a well kept secret shop in Santa Monica, The Brat Store. Whether I was getting ready for that hot date, or stepping out to a show, they always had just the right outfit to make me feel a little hipper, a little cooler than the other kids at the bar. You have no idea how many times I’ve been out in that sweater with the star embroidery or the super cute bondage pants and got nothing but “I love that – where did you get it?” all night long. And its not just fashions for the ladies, she’s got the fellas covered as well. Unique tee-shirts, super cute golf/punk shorts and trend setting hats put over-exposed brands like Ed Hardy to shame.

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Fashion Sex And The City 2: Open Call

August 11, 2009 - 9:53 am

SATC2 Casting Call Line

Yesterday’s open casting call for Sex & The City 2 was an incredible sight.  Despite the sweltering heat & lack of shade, thousands of well-garbed budding thespians thronged to the Metropolitan Pavilion for their chance to be immortalized on the silver screen, alongside the likes of Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York, Miranda Hobbs & Samantha Jones.

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Fashion interview The Boudoir Queen

August 3, 2009 - 12:28 pm

The Boudoir Queen

Welcome to a world of tattered silk, stained lace & decadently distressed velvet.  A world where girls eyes are always fringed with magical false eyelashes, their hair is always elegantly tousled, & they wear elaborate headpieces while lounging around the house.

This is the world of Dawn Younger-Smith, owner of The Boudoir Queen, where disheveled opulence reigns.  Citing the likes of Marchesa Louisa Casati, Kiki De Montparnasse & Erte as style icons & influences, when she isn’t busy designing stage costumes for celebrities — she’s currently creating outfits for The Veronicas tour — Dawn has been known to delight onlookers in a dress made from Aleister Crowley collage!

I pounced on her for 10 quick questions.  I like to imagine her writing her answers while wearing an immense feathered headdress!

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Fashion Tough Luxe

August 1, 2009 - 3:57 pm

Tough Luxe

What are you hoping to see plenty of this upcoming (I know — hard to believe) fall/winter? Personally, the thing I am most excited about is the popularisation of the tough luxe aesthetic, which has been building for a couple of winters now. Last winter, a leather jacket was essential. This year, that look has been pulled up & spun into something more sophisticated — & entirely more enticing.

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Fashion Dr. Marten Revolution

July 22, 2009 - 6:25 pm

Dr. Martens

Seen anything familiar pounding the pavement recently?  Yeah, me too.  It’s all about that boot with its yellow stitching, familiar lacing & distinctive tag — AirWair With Bouncing Soles — from which American punk group, The Bouncing Souls, took their name.

Yes, Dr Marten boots are BACK, & in no uncertain terms.  Currently seen on everyone from punk rock ruffians to uber-stylish fashion editrixes, the iconic boot is experiencing a resurgence like never before.  With brand new styling & vibrant colourways, there’s now a DM boot to appeal to everyone. (Even my mother fell in love with a pair, & she’s 62!)

Dr. Martens

They’re creative over there at DM HQ.  Not content just with simple colours like black, brown or cherry red — oh no, not them — they keep expanding, having recently rolled out a line of pastel boots (purple, pink, turquoise & mulberry) in super-shiny patent, & even a boot with a floral, almost William Morris-esque design overlaid with velvet-effect flocking.  There are DMs featuring glow-in-the-dark skeleton feet & angel’s wings.  Or perhaps a skull with a rose in its mouth is something you’d prefer to have emblazoned on your leg.

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Fashion Twirl of the Week: Allison Hourcade

July 15, 2009 - 12:25 pm

allison

The launch of Molly Crabapple’s (http://www.mollycrabapple.com) new graphic novel Scarlett Takes Manhattan at the Slipper Room on New York City’s Lower East Side on Wednesday was so full of fancily-clad people that it was difficult for me to narrow down the top contender for our Twirl Of The Week!

Just when I was beginning to despair, I spotted Allison.  I was immediately taken by her fantastic headband, super high-waisted skirt & great shoes, & knew I had a winner!

Name:
Allison Hourcade, owner of RockLove Jewelry

Age:
24

Location:
NYC

Your style icon:
Some sort of mix between Bettie Page and Joan Jett — my mullet is tucked away!

What inspired your outfit?
Was going for a classy rockabilly Pocahontas look since I was going to a swanky restaurant for dinner after Molly Crabapple’s graphic novel Scarlett Takes Manhattan release party.

Currently obsessed with:
Headwraps — this one was made by a stylist friend Emma from a t-shirt sleeve.

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Fashion Featured Psycho is the New Black

July 9, 2009 - 2:50 pm

If your psycho girlfriend started a clothing line, what would it look like?

Wait, on second thought, don’t bother asking her—since there’s no way it could be nearly as cool as Vanessa Bonet and Kasey McMahon’s line, you’d probably just end up with a keyed car if you did. Bonet and McMahon have taken fashion to new heights (or new levels of mental instability, depending on how you look at it) with their LA-based “wearable art” design collaboration Psycho Girlfriend, which they founded in 2004.

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